However, a separate study indicated that the inhibition of PFKFB3 activated HIF-1α and transcriptionally upregulated PD-L1 expression with reduced levels of CD8 and GZMB and shorter survival times in ESCC patients, suggesting that PFKFB3 may act as a protumor-immunity factor [286]. This evidence concerns the gene PFKFB3 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.